Floor-cleaning and rug-shampooing apparatus

ABSTRACT

A surface-cleaning and rug-shampooing apparatus of the type wherein rotating cleaning and shampooing brushes are spaced by spiral wipers that direct the brushed-off material to the inlet of an air suction conduit at the center of the rotating brushes wherein the conduit consists of an open-ended chamber at the center of a rotating brush housing that communicates with a stationary housing formed with an outlet for connection to a suction pump. The stationary housing supports a motor and encloses a gear casing connecting a motor shaft to a driven shaft on which the brush housing is secured, and provides a passage between the chamber and the suction outlet therein.

United States Patent Danzig [54] FLOOR-CLEANING AND RUG- SHAMPOOING APPARATUS Bixler ..15/32l X Olsen ..l5/32O X [72] Inventor: Stanley Danzig, 4 Center St., Cresskill, Primary Examiner Edward L Roberts 07626 Assistant Examiner-C. K. Moore 22 Filed; May 21 1970 Attorney-Victor M. Helfand [21] Appl. No.: 39,429 57 ABSTRACT A surface-cleaning and rug-shampooing apparatus of the type [52] U.S. Cl. ..l5/322, 15/50 R, 15/372, wherein rotating Cleaning and Shampooing brushes are Spaced 15/385 by spiral wipers that direct the brushed-off material to the inlet of an air suction conduit at the center of the rotafing l 0 [3 3: g k brushes wherein the conduit consists of an open-ended chamber at the center of a rotating brush housing that com- 56] R i C1 d municates with a stationary housing formed with an outlet for e erences connection to a suction pump. The stationary housing sup- UNITED STATES PATENTS ports a motor and encloses a gear casing connecting a motor I shaft to a driven shaft on which the brush housing 15 secured, 2,999,258 9/1961 Berberian ..15/50 R and provides a passage between the chamber and the Suction 2,591,093 4/1952 Okun ....15/50 R X outlet therein 2,517,915 8/1950 Okun ....l5/50RX 2,198,322 4/1940 Von Schrader l 5/ 321 X 7 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures Patented Feb. 29, 1972 3,644,960

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 She n y Dan 2/; INVENTOR.

Patented Feb. 29, 1972 2 Sheets-$heet 2 FLOOR-CLEANING AND RUG-SHAMPOOING APPARATUS The present invention relates to apparatus for washing and cleaning surfaces and for shampooing and cleaning rugs or the like, and is an improvement over the apparatus described and' claimed in US. Pat. No. 2,999,258, dated Sept. 12, 1961.

ln said patent, there is disclosed apparatus, of the character described, including rotating brushes, which operates by the wetting of a surface to be cleaned or shampooed with a cleaning or shampooing fluid applied through the brushes of the apparatus and which scrubs the wetted surface with the brushes; the spent fluid containing loosened dirt and trash being suctioned off by vacuum through a fixedly supported tube extending between the brushes, to which it is advanced by spiralshaped squeegees located between and rotating with the brushes.

The present invention is directed to the provision of apparatus, of the character described, which is more efficient in the removal, by vacuum, of the spent cleaning fluid.

It is another object of the present invention to provide apparatus, of the character described, which is also more efficient in the removal of solid waste picked up in the course of cleaning or shampooing and, therefore, will not become clogged or put out of order by such solid waste.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide apparatus, of the character described, which is of simplified construction, particularly in having a simpler, less complicated gearing system for the rotation of the brushes and squeegees; and in having the brush unit connected directly to the driven shaft in a manner that is readily accessible for assembling and disassembling the brush unit, as a whole, with the apparatus that is more economical to produce, easier to install, less likely to get out of order and, therefore, rendering the apparatus of the invention easier to use and more economical to produce.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages of the surface-cleaning and rug-shampooing apparatus of the present invention will become more readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the embodiment thereof shown in the accompanying drawings, and from the description following. It is understood, however, that such embodiment is shown by way of illustration only, to make the principles and practice of the invention more readily comprehensible and without any intent of limiting the invention to the specific details shown therein. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a vertical, sectional, and partly elevational view of one embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a bottom plan view of the same;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the apparatus of the invention.

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the brush housing of the same, severed from the driven shaft.

Generally stated, the present invention resides in the replacement of the fixed, vacuum-connected pipe from the center of the brush unit of the prior apparatus with a chamber that is connected to the brush housing and is rotatable therewith and connects through openings in its roof with a second chamber in the frame of the apparatus; the latter being, in turn, connected by a suitable tube or pipe to a suction pump. The second chamber is laterally offset relative to the first chamber, permitting a more direct and less complicated gearing arrangement between the motor of the apparatus and the brush unit.

Referring now, in greater detail, to the embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings, the apparatus is shown to comprise a motor housing, 10, (motor not shown) mounted on a baseplate, 12, having an opening, 14, through Which extends a relatively short motor shaft, 16.

Baseplate 12 supports below it a gearcase, generally designated 18. Gearcase 18 comprises a relatively shallow, upright cylindrical wall portion, 20, substantially coextensive in area with baseplate l2, and a stepped, downwardly reducing portion formed by a first horizontal ring-shaped wall, 22, a reduced short cylindrical wall portion, 24, dependent from the inner edges of wall portion 22, and a second horizontal ringshaped wall 26, extending from the edges of wall portion 24. Ring 26 has its opening defined by a dependent bearing sleeve, 28. Wall portions 22 and 26 each has its center opening eccentrically arranged to have their wider portions diametrically oppositely disposed and with the opening in ring 26 registering substantially with motor shaft 16.

Gear case 18 also includes a flat, ring-shaped top wall, 30, disposed on the top edges of wall portion 20, and coextensive in area with baseplate 12, through the center opening of which shaft 16 extends into the upper portion of the gearcase 18.

The end of motor shaft 16 mounts a pinion, 32, that meshes with a gearwheel, 34, mounted on a shaft 36, journaled by its ends in the wider area of wall portion 26 of gearcase l8, and in the top wall 30 thereof. Shaft 36 mounts, at its lower end, a pinion, 38, which meshes with a gearwheel, 40, mounted on a driven shaft, 42, that extends into the bearing sleeve 28 and has a reduced end, 44, projecting from the bearing sleeve 28 and formed with a preferably further reduced threaded end, 46.

Gearcase wall portion 20 has secured thereto on its exterior, in any desired manner, a depending cylindrical frame, 48, formed with a lateral extension, generally designated as 50, alongside of the wider portion of ring 22. Extension 50 includes an upright wall portion, 52, substantially parallel to and spaced from the wall of frame 48 and connected thereto by sidewall portion, 54, which may be extended to comprise a handle for the apparatus. Extension 50 also includes a top wall, 56. Frame 48 and walls 52 and 54 of the extension are of equal height and depend to a point below lower horizontal ring 26 of gearcase l8, and a plate, 58, formed with a circular opening, 60, is secured to the bottom edges of frame 48 and extension walls 52 and 54; the opening 60 being arranged to center on driven shaft 42. Communicating means may be provided between the chamber formed in the frame extension formed by the walls 52 and 54 and the chamber defined within the frame 48, by plate 58 and gearcase 18, as by cutting away the portion of the wall frame 48 opposite the extension wall 52, as at 62.

Driven shaft 42 mounts a brush unit supporting member, generally designated as 64. Brush unit supporting member 64 comprises a sleeve, 66, fitted over the projecting end 44 of driven shaft 42, and fixedly held thereon for rotation therewith, as by nut, 68, engaged over the threaded end portion of driven shaft 42. Sleeve 66 is fonned with a transversely extending circular flange, 70, which is provided with an upwardly extending cylindrical flange, 72; the latter being, in turn, provided with an outwardly offset, transversely extending circular flange, 74, which is arranged to fit closely but freely in opening 60 of plate 58. Flange 74 is formed with a plurality, such as three, of relatively large openings, 76, and cylindrical flange 72 is formed with a plurality, such as three, of laterally extending, integral lugs, 78, spaced from flange 74 and preferably located each intermediate an adjacent pair of openings, 76.

The brush unit comprises a housing, generally designated as 80, formed of a central, open-ended, vertically extending tubular body, defining a chamber, 82. The wall of chamber 82 has extending from its upper edge lugs, 84, by which it may be supported and secured on lugs 78 of cylindrical flange 72 of supporting member 64, and spaced below said lugs is a relatively large circular plate, 86, extending in normal relation to the vertical axis of the tubular body 82, which forms the top of the brush housing 80 and from the edges of which depends the flange, 88, forming its side. Housing top 86 may be formed with an upstanding circular flange, 89, inwardly of its peripheral edge and may be provided with a plurality of radially disposed openings, 90, between the upstanding flange 89 and the side of the body 82.

Brush housing 80 is provided with a plurality of wiper blades or squeegees, 92, which extend spirally between sidewall 88 and the wall of tubular body 82. Brushes 94 are supported within the housing 80, each in a space defined between blades 92 and conforming in shape to such space; the backs of the brushes being provided with vertical apertures, 96, therethrough. The brushes 94 may be resiliently supported from housing top 82, as by means of pins, 98, passing through the housing top and, freely, through the brush backs, with expansion spring, 100, fitted over the pins 98 between the housing top and the brush backs.

Top wall 56 of frame extension 50 is formed with an opening, 104, defined by an upstanding tubular nipple, 106, which is connectable to an air exhaust pump (not shown) and the horizontal portion of apron, 108, of frame 48 is formed with an opening through which passes a tube, 110, connectable to a source of cleaning or shampooing fluid; the tube 110 passing through plate 58 over the slotted portion of top wall 86.

The operation of the apparatus will become apparent from the foregoing description. While the motor is running and the brushes rotate, cleaning or shampooing fluid is supplied through tube 110 to brush housing top 85, dropping through apertures 96 between bristle tufts to the surface to be cleaned. As the brush unit is rotated by the motor, through driven shaft 44, and the brush unit supporting member 64, mounted thereon, wiper blades or squeegees 92 will direct the spent cleaning or shampooing fluid containing impurities or soil, brushed up by the brushes, to a point below the opening of the chamber 82, where it will be sucked up by the suction into the chamber defined between frame 48, bottom plate 58, and brush unit supporting member 64 through the openings 60 in the latter and through the opening 62 in frame wall 48 into the space within the frame extension 50 and through the opening 104 in the top wall thereof to the suction apparatus.

This completes the description of the apparatus of the surface-cleaning and rug-shampooing apparatus of the invention. It will be apparent that such apparatus will work effectively and efficiently, by reason of its more rapid and complete exhausting of the spent liquid from the treated surfaces and for the further reason that it is minimally subject to become clogged by solid waste material removed from the treated surfaces. lt will also be apparent that the apparatus of the invention, by reason of its highly simplified gearing system, is sturdier and less likely to come out of order, operates with less friction and is, therefore, more economical to use, and renders the apparatus of lighter weight.

it will be further apparent that numerous variations and modifications may be made in the surface-cleaning and rugshampooing apparatus of the present invention by anyone skilled in the art, in accordance with the principles of the invention hereinabove set forth, without the exercise of any inventive ingenuity.

lclaim:

l. Surface-cleaning and shampooing apparatus, of the character described, comprising a main housing, a motor mounted over said main housing and having its driving shaft extending thereinto, said main housing having a bottom wall formed with a central circular opening opposite said driving shaft; a driven shaft projecting through said opening in said bottom wall and means operatively connecting said driving shaft with said driven shaft; and a brush unit comprising a brush housing having a top wall and a peripheral flange depending from said top wall, said top wall having an opening formed therein at the center thereof, an open-ended tubular chamber set into said opening with its axis normal to said top wall, said tubular chamber projecting outwardly of said brush unit housing and inwardly thereinto to a point opposite the free edge of said flange, means joined to the outwardly projecting portion of said tubular chamber closely and rotatably fitting within said opening in said bottom wall of said main housing; said brush unit secured to said driven shaft by said tubular chamber by means joined to said tubular chamber fitting over the projecting end of said driven shaft and by restraining means securing said joined means on said shaft end, said restraining means accessible from below said brush unit through said tubular chamber for engagement and disengagement from said shaft end, brush and squeegee means mounted in said brush housing around said chamber; means connecting the interior of said chamber with the interior of said main housing for the passage of air between them, said main housing having an air outlet connectable to air exhaust means.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said main housing includes a top wall and a peripheral wall, said driving shaft projecting into said main housing through said top wall, and wherein said means operatively connecting said driving and driven shafts includes a gear casing in said main housing extending through said opening in the bottom wall thereof, said gear casing having an opening formed therein in alignment with said driving shaft, said opening defined by a bearing sleeve, said driven shaft disposed in said bearing sleeve, and a gear train within said gear casing on one side of said main housing operatively connecting said driving and driven shafts.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said gear casing is provided with a top wall, said top wall having an opening through which said motor shaft extends and said gear train comprises a shaft supported between said top wall on said gear casing and the bottom wall thereof, said shaft having a gearwheel mounted thereon meshing with a pinion mounted on said motor shaft and a pinion mounted on said shaft meshing with a gear mounted on said driven shaft.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said shafts are axially aligned.

5. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein said means joined to the outwardly projecting portion of said tubular chamber comprises a plate having a central opening and mounted by said central opening over the projecting end of said driven shaft, said plate fitted in the opening of said bottom wall of said main housing and disposed over the open end of said chamber, means supporting said tubular chamber on said plate; said restraining member retaining said plate on said driven shaft, said plate having openings formed therein connecting the interior of said chamber with the interior of said housing.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein said end of said driven shaft extends into said chamber and said plate is downwardly stepped and engaged by its lower portion on said end of said driven shaft; said plate having outwardly extending space lugs below its upper end, said tubular chamber having laterally extending lugs formed at its upper edge supported on said plate lugs.

7. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said main housing includes a frame extension projecting from said peripheral wall, said frame extension defined by sidewalls and an outer wall, said outer wall substantially parallel to a portion of said peripheral wall, said bottom wall of said main housing extending below said frame extension, said chamber in said frame extension having a top wall; and wherein said outlet means comprises a cutaway portion of said peripheral wall opposite said frame extension, whereby the interior of said housing communicates with the interior of said frame extension, and an opening is formed in the top wall of said frame extension, said top wall opening connectable with said air exhaust pump. 

1. Surface-cleaning and shampooing apparatus, of the character described, comprising a main housing, a motor mounted over said main housing and having its driving shaft extending thereinto, said main housing having a bottom wall formed with a central circular opening opposite said driving shaft; a driven shaft projecting through said opening in said bottom wall and means operatively connecting said driving shaft with said driven shaft; and a brush unit comprising a brush housing having a top wall and a peripheral flange depending from said top wall, said top wall having an opening formed therein at the center thereof, an openended tubular chamber set into said opening with its axis normal to said top wall, said tubular chamber projecting outwardly of said brush unit housing and inwardly thereinto to a point opposite the free edge of said flange, means joined to the outwardly projecting portion of said tubular chamber closely and rotatably fitting within said opening in said bottom wall of said main housing; said brush unit secured to said driven shaft by said tubular chamber by means joined to said tubular chamber fitting over the projecting end of said driven shaft and by restraining means securing said joined means on said shaft end, said restraining means accessible from below said brush unit through said tubular chamber for engagement and disengagement from said shaft end, brush and squeegee means mounted in said brush housing around said chamber; means connecting the interior of said chamber with the interior of said main housing for the passage of air between them, said main housing having an air outlet connectable to air exhaust means.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said main housing includes a top wall and a peripheral wall, said driving shaft projecting into said main housing through said top wall, and wherein said means operatively connecting said driving and driven shafts includes a gear casing in said main housing extending through said opening in the bottom wall thereof, said gear casing having an opening formed therein in alignment with said driving shaft, said opening defined by a bearing sleeve, said driven shaft disposed in said bearing sleeve, and a gear train within said gear casing on one side of said main housing operatively connecting said driving and driven shafts.
 3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said gear casing is provided with a top wall, said top wall having an opening through which said motor shaft extends and said gear train comprises a shaft supported between said top wall on said gear casing and the bottom wall thereof, said shaft having a gearwheel mounted thereon meshing with a pinion mounted on said motor shaft and a pinion mounted on said shaft meshing with a gear mounted on said driven shaft.
 4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said shafts are axially aligned.
 5. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein said means joined to the outwardly projecting portion of said tubular chamber comprises a plate having a central opening and mounted by said central opening over the projecting end of said driven shaft, said plate fitted in the opening of said bottom wall of said main housing and disposed over the open end of said chamber, means supporting said tubular chamber on said plate; said restraining member retaining said plate on said driven shaft, said plate having openings formed therein connecting the interior of said chamber with the interior of said housing.
 6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein said end of said driven shaft extends into said chamber and said plate is downwardly stepped and engaged by its lower portion on said end of said driven shaft; said plate Having outwardly extending space lugs below its upper end, said tubular chamber having laterally extending lugs formed at its upper edge supported on said plate lugs.
 7. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said main housing includes a frame extension projecting from said peripheral wall, said frame extension defined by sidewalls and an outer wall, said outer wall substantially parallel to a portion of said peripheral wall, said bottom wall of said main housing extending below said frame extension, said chamber in said frame extension having a top wall; and wherein said outlet means comprises a cutaway portion of said peripheral wall opposite said frame extension, whereby the interior of said housing communicates with the interior of said frame extension, and an opening is formed in the top wall of said frame extension, said top wall opening connectable with said air exhaust pump. 